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Barry Keoghan, portraying Joker in the 2022 blockbuster The Batman, showered praise upon the late actor Heath Ledger and his legendary portrayal of Joker in The Dark Knight 2008.
Recently, Barry Keoghan, the actor taking on the role of Joker in The Batman, spoke out affirming that Heath Ledger is the highest pinnacle of the criminal clown on screen.
Joker is one of the iconic villains of the DC comic universe in particular and mainstream culture in general. Since its first appearance in Batman #1 (1940) by Bill Finger, Bob Kane, and Jerry Robin, Joker has always been seen as Batman's greatest adversary.
Throughout more than 80 years, this duo of adversaries has continued to inspire filmmakers and major film producers worldwide. Many prominent figures have embodied DC's Clown Prince of Crime on both the big and small screens. Among them are Jack Nicholson, Heath Ledger, Joaquin Phoenix, and most recently, Barry Keoghan in a scene cut from the blockbuster The Batman.
Recently, in an interview with Collider, Barry Keoghan shared insights into his time taking on the role of Joker in director Matt Reeves' film project. The actor revealed that he did not draw inspiration from his predecessors' performances, but he affirmed that Heath Ledger is the perfect rendition of Joker to date.
Barry shares: “ Stepping into the role of Joker is a daunting challenge. For me, Heath Ledger nailed it. So, you can draw inspiration from him and many other actors. However, you also need to bring your own essence. That's what I've done with the character I'm portraying, something no one has witnessed before.”
“ As I've said, I don't want to adhere to any frameworks or acting methods. I want to be authentic. I want to bring my own version of Joker because I believe when you create a version that's never been seen before, it will be something fresh and incredibly unique. This will also help many people feel closer and more receptive. So, playing Joker is a tough task, but I'm also very excited about that challenge.”
Joker can be considered one of the most iconic roles of the late actor Heath Ledger. To this day, it's still seen as the perfect, 'insane,' and most terrifying portrayal, much like in the original DC comics. This role also earned Heath Ledger a prestigious Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in 2009. It took another 10 years for this achievement to be repeated thanks to Joaquin Phoenix's phenomenal performance in the blockbuster Joker.
On the other hand, Barry Keoghan's portrayal of Joker in The Batman hasn't had much screen time. This character doesn't significantly impact the film's plot, and the longest scene featuring the actor has been cut from the official release. Additionally, Barry has also revealed that DC Films and Warner Bros. have not yet reached out to discuss The Batman 2 with him, leaving the possibility of this Joker version returning to the big screen in the near future uncertain.
